Philippine space program

File:DOST seal.svg was responsible for a majority of space research conducted.]]

Prior to the creation of the PhilSA, several government agencies under the DOST ran the country's space program: namely, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).{{cite news|last1=Luces|first1=Kim|title=Reaching for the stars: Why the Philippines needs a space program|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/330981/scitech/science/reaching-for-the-stars-why-the-philippines-needs-a-space-program|access-date=June 30, 2014|work=GMA News|date=October 15, 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Cinco|first1=Maricar|title=Gov’t space agency pushed|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/303644/govt-space-agency-pushed|access-date=June 30, 2014|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=November 7, 2012}}{{cite news|last1=Pineda|first1=Oscar|title=Country needs to upgrade weather detection gear|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2013/03/10/country-needs-upgrade-weather-detection-gear-272156|access-date=June 30, 2014|work=Sun Star Cebu|date=March 10, 2013|archive-date=September 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917103122/https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/274066/Business/-Country-needs-to-upgrade-weather-detection-gear/|url-status=dead}} The DOST and the Manila Observatory crafted a 10-year masterplan in 2012 to make the Philippines a "space-capable country" by 2022.{{cite news|last1=Usman|first1=Edd|title=PH to become ‘space-capable’ in 10 yrs, according to DOST|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/ph-to-become-space-capable-in-10-yrs-according-to-dost/#rw7LkUMIusl2I6he.99|access-date=30 March 2015|publisher=Manila Bulletin|date=29 March 2015}} New programs and future space missions will be directed by the newly created Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).{{cite web|title=PH's Maya-2 launched into space: DOST|url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131386|access-date=23 February 2021|website=Philippine News Agency|language=en|quote=The (satellite) program (of the DOST) will now transition into the leadership of the newly established Philippine Space Agency, he added.}}

File:The Manila Observatory (1923).jpg

{{Main|Manila Observatory}}

The Manila Observatory was established during the Spanish colonial period in 1865 and was the only formal meteorological and astronomical research and services institution in the Philippines and remained so until the creation of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in 1972.{{cite news|last1=Tumampos|first1=Stephanie|last2=Resurreccion|first2=Lyn|date=29 October 2018|title=PHL flying high–into space|work=BusinessMirror|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/phl-flying-high-into-space/|access-date=29 October 2018}}

Efforts to establish a Philippine space program started as early as the 1960s, when the government built an Earth satellite receiving station. US President Lyndon Johnson discussed with then-Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in 1966 about the possibility of establishing a joint US–Philippine space program to monitor storms in Asia. If such plans had pushed through it would have been the first time Asians would have gotten involved in space activities.{{cite news|date=16 September 1966|title=Philippine chief lauds U.S. stand in Vietnam|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19660916&id=oOxRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GXQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3525,3327104&hl=en|access-date=13 May 2015}}

The Philippine Communications Satellite (Philcomsat) was established within the same decade when the Marcos government built an Earth satellite receiving station.{{cite news|title=Wealth of Marcos recovered|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RLQfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R9cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2779%2C4249260|access-date=18 January 2016|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Gadsden Times|date=23 March 1986}} Philcomsat was a founding member of Intelsat, an international satellite consortium.{{cite news|title=Businessman urged gov't to set up satellite|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SZUVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3woEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2567%2C1675404|access-date=19 January 2016|publisher=Manila Standard|date=12 December 1993}} It also had an exclusive franchise for satellite communication in Southeast Asia, as well as in Korea and Japan. It was also responsible for providing the equipment which enabled people in Asia to watch the Apollo 11 launch, which took place on July 16, 1969.{{cite news|title=Space Age plant due in Dutchess|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bVpGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ICYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4777%2C4591168|access-date=18 January 2016|publisher=The Evening News|date=26 July 1969|location=Wappingers Falls}} The wholly government-owned company became a private corporation in 1982. Marcos also by the virtue of Presidential Decree No. 286 created the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC) a Philippine state owned aerospace and defense technology corporation attached to the Department of National Defense, to establish a "reliable aviation and aerospace industry" in the Philippines, design, manufacture and sell "all forms" of aircraft, as well as to develop indigenous capabilities in the maintenance, repair, and modification of aviation equipment.{{cite web |title=Presidential Decree No. 286, s. 1973 |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1973/09/05/presidential-decree-no-286-s-1973/ |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines |access-date=6 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101185900/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1973/09/05/presidential-decree-no-286-s-1973/ |archive-date=1 November 2017 |date=5 September 1973}}

On April 23, 1980, the Philippines became one of the initial 11 signatories to the Moon Treaty.

File:ABS-3 (Agila-2).jpg, the first launched satellite of the Philippines. The satellite now operates as ABS-3.]]In 1974, the Philippines planned to use satellites to improve communications. The leasing of satellites from Intelsat was considered but it was later decided to lease capacity from the Indonesian Palapa system. There were interests for a national communication satellite but initiatives to obtain one did not start until 1994, when the Philippine Agila Satellite Inc. (PASI), a consortium of 17 companies, was established to operate and purchase domestic satellites.{{cite book|last1=Martin|first1=Donald|title=Communication Satellites|date=2000|publisher=AIAA|isbn=1884989098|page=463|edition=illustrated|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_azf94TByF8C&pg=PA463|chapter=Asian African South American and Australian Satellites - Philippines}}{{cite book|last1=MacKie-Mason|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Waterman|first2=David|title=Telephony, the Internet, and the Media: Selected Papers From the 1997 Telecommunications Policy Research Conference|date=26 November 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=1136684263|pages=239–242|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3SEuAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA239|chapter=Communication Satellite Policies in Asia}}

The Mabuhay Satellite Corporation (MSC), another consortium, was formed in the same year by PLDT, which was a former member of PASI. PLDT was the largest member of PASI before its departure from the consortium. MSC was composed of numerous domestic telecommunications and broadcasting companies, along with Indonesia-based Pasifik Satelit Nusantara and China-based Everbright Group.

{{cite news|title=PLDT Forms satellite firm|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dKpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zAoEAAAAIBAJ&dq=mabuhay%20satellite%20corporation%20philippine&pg=3965%2C506399|access-date=19 January 2016|publisher=Manila Standard|date=2 November 1994}}

Then, President Fidel V. Ramos expressed his desire for a Philippine satellite to be in orbit in time for the APEC Summit to be held in the country in November 1996.

MSC complied with the acquisition of Indonesian satellite Palapa B-2P from Pasifik Satelit Nusantara. The satellite was moved to a new orbital slot on August 1, 1996. The satellite was renamed Agila-1 and became the first satellite in orbit to be owned by the country.{{cite news|title=Mabuhay acquires Indon satellite;sets new orbit|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19960725&id=9mUVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0goEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6158,3894648|work=Manila Standard|date=July 25, 1996}}{{cite web|title=Mabuhay Acquires Pasifik Satellite|url=http://www.telecompaper.com/news/mabuhay-acquires-pasifik-satellite--87089|website=Telecompaper|access-date=June 30, 2014|date=August 6, 1996}}{{cite web|title=Palapa B-2P|url=http://weebau.com/satellite/P/palapa%20b2p.htm|website=Weebau Space Encyclopedia|access-date=June 30, 2014}}

MSC launched the country's second satellite, Agila-2, with the assistance of China. The communications satellite was launched through the Long March 3B at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on August 19, 1997. The satellite was acquired by Asia Broadcast Satellite in 2011{{Cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/agila-2.htm|title=Agila 2 / ABS 5 → ABS 3|website=space.skyrocket.de|access-date=2018-01-25}} and was renamed to ABS-3.

File:Diwata-1.jpg on display before launch.]]

File:Birds-2 on ISS (Iss056e100586).jpg

{{Main|Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite program|Birds-2}}

The DOST initiated the Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite (PHL-Microsat) program to send two microsatellites in 2016 and 2017. The effort is part of the country's disaster risk management program. A receiving station will also be built in the country.{{cite news|last1=De Guzman|first1=RJ|title=PH soon in space; DOST to launch satellite by 2016|url=http://kickerdaily.com/ph-soon-in-space-dost-to-launch-satellite-by-2016/|access-date=June 30, 2014|work=Kicker Daily News|date=June 24, 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Usman|first1=Edd|last2=Wakefield|first2=Francis|title=PH to launch own microsatellite in 2016|work=Manila Bulletin|date=June 30, 2014}} The efforts were part of a bigger project, together with seven other Asian countries aside from Japan and the Philippines, to create a network of about 50 microsatellites.{{cite news|title=Asian Universities + Asian Nations Go Small... Monitor Natural Disasters w/Network Of Microsatellites|url=http://www.satnews.com/story.php?number=900912903|access-date=14 January 2016|publisher=Satnews Daily|date=13 January 2016}}

The first satellite under the PHL-Microsat program Diwata-1, the first satellite designed and assembled by Filipinos, with cooperation from Hokkaido University and Tohoku University.{{cite news|last1=Morimoto|first1=Miki|title=Japanese, Filipino researchers to jointly develop satellites to check typhoon damage|url=http://ajw.asahi.com/article/sci_tech/technology/AJ201503060062|access-date=12 March 2015|publisher=Asahi Shimbun|date=6 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310012636/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/sci_tech/technology/AJ201503060062|archive-date=10 March 2015}} One of the major goals of the PHL-Microsat program is to boost the progress on the creation of the Philippine Space Agency.{{cite news|last1=Usman|first1=Edd|title=DOST says PHL joining Asian 50-microsatellite alliance of 9 countries|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/dost-says-phl-joining-asian-50-microsatellite-alliance-of-9-countries/|access-date=15 January 2016|publisher=Manila Bulletin|date=15 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160220062422/http://www.mb.com.ph/dost-says-phl-joining-asian-50-microsatellite-alliance-of-9-countries/|archive-date=20 February 2016}} The satellite was deployed from the International Space Station on April 27, 2016. This satellite was succeeded on October 29, 2018, by Diwata-2, which was launched directly into orbit from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.{{Cite web|title=PH to launch second micro satellite 'Diwata 2' into space on Oct. 29 - UNTV News {{!}} UNTV News|url=https://www.untvweb.com/news/ph-to-launch-second-micro-satellite-diwata-2-into-space-on-oct-29/|access-date=2018-10-29|website=www.untvweb.com}}{{Cite news|title=PH-made microsatellite Diwata-2 flies into space|language=en|work=Rappler|url=https://www.rappler.com/science-nature/earth-space/215468-philippine-made-microsatellite-diwata-2-space-launch-october-29-2018|access-date=2018-10-29}}{{Cite news|last=Cabalza|first=Dexter|title=PH successfully sends Diwata-2 microsatellite into space|language=en|url=https://technology.inquirer.net/80735/ph-successfully-sends-diwata2-microsatellite-into-space|access-date=2018-10-29}}File:ISS-47 Diwata-1 satellite deployment.jpgThe first nanosatellite under the Birds-2 program, Maya-1 was also deployed from the ISS in the Japanese Kibo module along with two other satellites from Bhutan and Malaysia on August 10, 2018.

{{Main|Philippine Space Agency}}Despite these advancements, the country's space program still faced two primary challenges: insufficient funding and the lack of a centralized space agency.{{cite news|last1=de Guzman|first1=Chad|date=23 March 2018|title=PH takes small steps, as it aims for giant leaps in space technology|work=CNN Philippines|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/03/23/ph-space-program-development-DIWATA1-DIWATA2-philippine-space-act.html|access-date=21 April 2018|archive-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422101608/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/03/23/ph-space-program-development-DIWATA1-DIWATA2-philippine-space-act.html|url-status=dead}} In the absence of a formal space agency, the DOST funded the National Space Development Program to set up the foundations of a future space agency.File:Philippine Space Agency establishment PC.jpg

President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2018 announced that a precursor to a space agency, the National Space Development Office, will be established. As of March 2018, there are seven pending bills in both the House of Representatives and the Senate seeking to establish the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA). In the meantime, the DOST has agreed with the Russian space agency Roscosmos, "to proceed with negotiations of an intergovernmental framework agreement on space cooperation that will include use of Russian rockets to launch Philippine payloads such as micro-and nano-satellites as well as the establishment of a receiving station for the Global Navigation Satellite System" (GLONASS), Russia's alternative to American Global Positioning System (GPS){{cite news|title=DOST Finalizes MOU with Russian Space Agency|url=https://www.dfa.gov.ph/dfa-news/news-from-our-foreign-service-postsupdate/17790-dost-finalizes-mou-with-russian-space-agency|access-date=24 September 2018|publisher=Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)|date=7 September 2018|archive-date=September 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925104330/https://www.dfa.gov.ph/dfa-news/news-from-our-foreign-service-postsupdate/17790-dost-finalizes-mou-with-russian-space-agency|url-status=dead}}

In late January 2019, the Department of Science and Technology has said that the Philippines is already capable of founding its own space agency with a pending bill already passed in the House of Representatives and pending counterpart legislation already pending in the Senate. By this time since 2010, the science department has already spent {{Philippine peso|7.48 billion}} (or $144 million) for space research and development, aided 5,500 scholars, trained more than 1,000 space science experts, and established 25 facilities in various parts of the Philippines.{{cite news|date=1 February 2019|title=Philippines ready and able to create its own space agency, minister says|work=The Japan Times|agency=Kyodo|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/02/01/asia-pacific/science-health-asia-pacific/philippines-ready-able-create-space-agency-minister-says/#.XFaSiFwzaUk|access-date=3 February 2019}}

The Philippine Space Agency was established when the "Philippine Space Act" (Republic Act 11363) was signed into law by Pres. Duterte on 8 August 2019.{{cite news|last1=Parrocha|first1=Azer|date=13 August 2019|title=Duterte signs law creating Philippine Space Agency|work=Philippine News Agency|url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1077724|access-date=13 August 2019}}{{cite news|last1=Esguerra|first1=Darryl John|date=13 August 2019|title=Duterte signs law creating Philippine Space Agency|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1153405/duterte-signs-law-creating-philippine-space-agency|access-date=13 August 2019}} The first head of Philippine Space Agency, Joel Marciano Jr. was appointed on December 5, 2019, by President Duterte. The agency is currently focused on developing additional micro and nano-satellites and has not discounted developing rocket launch capability in the long term. The satellite program of the DOST will also transition into the PhilSA's authority.

Maya-2, a nanosatellite under the Birds-4 program, was successfully launched on February 21, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Arayata|first=Ma. Cristina|title=PH's Maya-2 launched into space: DOST|url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131386|access-date=2021-02-25|website=www.pna.gov.ph|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Maya-2, Philippines' 2nd CubeSat, has been launched to space station!|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/technology/776793/maya-2-philippines-2nd-cubesat-has-been-launched-to-space-station/story/|access-date=2021-02-25|website=GMA News Online|language=en}}

{{main|List of Philippine satellites}}

The Philippines does not have a spaceport.{{cite news |title=This photo shows a launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/http%253A%252F%252Fdoc.afp.com%252F9U36MQ-2 |access-date=17 January 2022 |work=Fact Checkc |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=6 December 2021 |language=en}} In January 2022, Senators Manny Pacquiao and Koko Pimentel met with representatives of SpaceX and discussed the possibility of setting up a launch pad in Mindanao due to its proximity to the equator.{{cite news |title=Pacquiao wants a space rocket launchpad in PH |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/pacquiao-wants-space-rocket-launchpad-philippines/ |access-date=17 January 2022 |work=Rappler |date=17 January 2022}} Mati, Davao Oriental has been proposed by the Ateneo de Davao University as early as 2019 to be a potential site for a spaceport.{{cite news |last1=Llemit |first1=Ralph Lawrence |title=From Mati to space |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1805793/davao/business/from-mati-to-space |access-date=17 January 2022 |work=Sunstar |date=15 May 2019 |language=English}} PhilSa is still examining proposals for a launch site in Mati as of late 2021.

{{See also|Science and technology in the Philippines}}

File:ModelRocketLaunch.jpg

The Department of Science and Technology–Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) launched the first Philippine Space Science Education Program (PESSAP) in 2004, to promote science and technology, particularly space science, as a field of study to the Filipino youth.{{cite news|last1=Salazar|first1=Tessa|title=Pinoys engage in ‘rocket science’ that literally holds water|url=http://business.inquirer.net/187521/pinoys-engage-in-rocket-science-that-literally-holds-water|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=28 February 2015}}

File:Tala Hybrid Rocket.png

On October 5, 2017, high school students from St. Cecilia's College-Cebu, Inc. launched 3-feet solid propellant Model rockets for the World Space Week 2017 celebration in Cebu City.{{cite news|last1=Plarisan|first1=Almida|title=SCC Ventures Rocket Science|url=https://lasssai.ph/2018/10/11/scc-ventures-rocket-science/|access-date=20 April 2019|publisher=Lasallian Schools Supervision Services Association Inc.(LASSSAI)|date=11 October 2018}} The same team was awarded a research grant by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) in 2018 to design and develop the TALA hybrid rocket which can propel a can satellite {{convert|5|km|mi}} into the atmosphere.{{cite news|title=DOST-PCIEERD AWARDS 2ND BATCH OF YOUNG INNOVATORS|url=https://pcieerd.dost.gov.ph/news/latest-news/319-dost-pcieerd-awards-2nd-batch-of-young-innovators|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825164909/https://pcieerd.dost.gov.ph/news/latest-news/319-dost-pcieerd-awards-2nd-batch-of-young-innovators|archive-date=25 August 2018|access-date=19 December 2022|publisher=Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development|date=15 August 2018}} TALA, the first high-powered hybrid rocket developed in the Philippines successfully lifted off at 11:57 AM Saturday from Crow Valley Gunnery Range, Capas, Tarlac. It was able to deploy its Can Satellite payload before going into fast descent and eventual deployment of its main parachute for safe landing.{{cite news|title=First Ph-developed high-power hybrid rocket, launched|url=https://philsa.gov.ph/news/first-ph-developed-high-power-hybrid-rocket-launched/|access-date=17 September 2023|publisher=Philippine Space Agency|date=22 May 2023}}{{cite news|title=PH launches its first high-powered hybrid rocket|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/870991/ph-launches-its-first-high-powered-hybrid-rocket/story/|access-date=17 September 2023|publisher=GMA News Online|date=24 May 2023}}

The PHL-Microsat program offers a graduate program called Space Science and Tech Proliferation through Partnerships (Stepup).{{cite news|last1=Resurreccion|first1=Lyn|date=12 August 2018|title=PHL ‘won’t be left out now’ in space program|work=BusinessMirror|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/phl-wont-be-left-out-now-in-space-program/|access-date=14 August 2018}}

Student-researchers and science faculty from St. Cecilia's College - Cebu, Inc. in partnership with Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) successfully launched the first High-Altitude Balloon Life Support System "Karunungan" (HAB LSS Karunungan) in May 2018 at Minglanilla, Cebu, Philippines and floated above the Armstrong Line to simulate 'space like' conditions for future space flights.{{cite news|last1=Usman|first1=Edd|title=Cebu’s young science geeks reach for the sky|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/cebus-young-science-geeks-reach-for-the-sky/|access-date=13 June 2018|publisher=Business Mirror|date=20 May 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Lacamiento|first1=Grace Melanie|title=To go beyond limits|url=https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-lifestyle/2018/06/20/1826237/go-beyond-limits|access-date=20 June 2018|publisher=The Freeman|date=20 June 2018}}

In 2019, Orbital Exploration (OrbitX), a private firm was set-up which aims to research on the usage as biofuel like algae to propel space launch vehicles. The company also plans to develop its own "reusable" payload launch vehicle named "Haribon SLS-1".{{cite news |last1=Felongco |first1=Gilbert |title=Filipino dreams of developing space vehicle for countrymen |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/philippines/filipino-dreams-of-developing-space-vehicle-for-countrymen-1.66108462 |access-date=6 November 2020 |work=Gulf News |date=30 August 2019 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Samson |first1=Oliver |title=Algae as spacecraft fuel? Possible, youth group says |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/14/algae-as-spacecraft-fuel-possible-youth-group-says/ |access-date=6 November 2020 |work=BusinessMirror |date=14 July 2019}}

File:Ph4-062016-JBV 1.jpg

File:Gwynne Shotwell and Bongbong Marcos.jpg|President Bongbong Marcos with SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell

File:Diwata-1 Turnover in Tsukuba, Japan 1.jpg

File:Diwata-1 Microsatellite.jpg

File:Diwata-2.png

File:Diwata-2 Microsatellite.jpg

File:Birds-2 in space (Iss056e130490).jpg

File:Maya-1 Nanosatellite.jpg

{{portal|Outer space|Philippines}}

• Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA)
• National SPACE Development Program (NSDP)
• Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite (PHL-Microsat)
• Birds-2

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Philippine space program}}

Philippines